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Activists call for independent inquiry into Madison police shooting Activists call for independent inquiry into Madison police shooting
(about 1 hour later)
Related: Tony Terrell Robinson was shot dead by Madison police. This is how it happenedRelated: Tony Terrell Robinson was shot dead by Madison police. This is how it happened
The fatal police shooting of the Madison, Wisconsin teenager Tony Robinson should be the subject of an independent investigation, activists in his hometown say, fearing bias in the state’s criminal justice system. The fatal police shooting of Wisconsin teenager Tony Robinson should be the subject of an independent investigation, activists in Madison say, fearing bias in the state’s criminal justice system.
The calls come as the Guardian can reveal a state investigator involved in the case was previously a member of the local force that killed Robinson, raising further questions about the impartiality of the investigation. The calls come as the Guardian can reveal a state investigator involved in the case was previously a member of the local force that employed the officer that killed Robinson, raising further questions about the impartiality of the investigation.
Robinson, an unarmed biracial 19-year-old, was shot dead by white police officer Matt Kenny on 6 March. Under Wisconsin law, the shooting was investigated by the state department of justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), which last week handed a report to the Dane County district attorney, who has yet to make a decision on whether to indict Kenny.Robinson, an unarmed biracial 19-year-old, was shot dead by white police officer Matt Kenny on 6 March. Under Wisconsin law, the shooting was investigated by the state department of justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), which last week handed a report to the Dane County district attorney, who has yet to make a decision on whether to indict Kenny.
Speaking on Friday evening at a packed community meeting on Madison’s south side, M Adams, a member of the Young Gifted and Black Coalition, said the prominent advocacy group would write to the United Nations and the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to request a “dual-track” investigation into the case.Speaking on Friday evening at a packed community meeting on Madison’s south side, M Adams, a member of the Young Gifted and Black Coalition, said the prominent advocacy group would write to the United Nations and the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to request a “dual-track” investigation into the case.
“We are not yet in a place in our movement where we expect to see an indictment or conviction of murder of a police officer for murdering a black person,” Adams said, adding that the group did not expect Kenny to be indicted.“We are not yet in a place in our movement where we expect to see an indictment or conviction of murder of a police officer for murdering a black person,” Adams said, adding that the group did not expect Kenny to be indicted.
Adams said a move to bring in international support was not new to black liberation struggles, citing the anti-lynching campaign presented to the UN in 1951 and Malcolm X’s efforts in 1963. More recently, the parents of Trayvon Martin – the unarmed 17-year-old who was shot dead in Florida by a neighborhood watch captain in 2012 – appeared at the UN in Geneva ahead of a review of the US record on racial discrimination.Adams said a move to bring in international support was not new to black liberation struggles, citing the anti-lynching campaign presented to the UN in 1951 and Malcolm X’s efforts in 1963. More recently, the parents of Trayvon Martin – the unarmed 17-year-old who was shot dead in Florida by a neighborhood watch captain in 2012 – appeared at the UN in Geneva ahead of a review of the US record on racial discrimination.
The Guardian has learned that one of the DCI investigators in the Robinson case, Lourdes Fernandez, was previously a member of the Madison police. According to a Madison police annual report published online, Fernandez appears to have resigned from the force some 10 years ago. The Guardian has learned that one of the DCI investigators in the Robinson case, Lourdes Fernandez, was previously a member of the Madison police department. According to a Madison police annual report published online, Fernandez appears to have resigned from the force some 10 years ago.
In a press release from mid-March, the state department of justice reported that 29 DCI staff members had been working on the case.In a press release from mid-March, the state department of justice reported that 29 DCI staff members had been working on the case.
Related: Madison police officer in Tony Robinson shooting called 'exemplary' by familyRelated: Madison police officer in Tony Robinson shooting called 'exemplary' by family
Neither Fernandez nor the Wisconsin attorney general’s office would comment on her role in the investigation or provide any other details, but a lawyer representing one of the key witnesses in the case – Robinson’s teenage roommate Anthony Limon – said Fernandez was present at an interview with the 19-year-old immediately after the fatal incident.Neither Fernandez nor the Wisconsin attorney general’s office would comment on her role in the investigation or provide any other details, but a lawyer representing one of the key witnesses in the case – Robinson’s teenage roommate Anthony Limon – said Fernandez was present at an interview with the 19-year-old immediately after the fatal incident.
Democratic state representative Chris Taylor, one of those who introduced the 2014 legislation mandating that the state department of justice investigate officer-involved shootings, said it was to be expected that experienced law enforcement officers would be involved in DCI investigations.Democratic state representative Chris Taylor, one of those who introduced the 2014 legislation mandating that the state department of justice investigate officer-involved shootings, said it was to be expected that experienced law enforcement officers would be involved in DCI investigations.
But she added: “My preference would be to have someone in who has no affiliation with the department being investigated.”But she added: “My preference would be to have someone in who has no affiliation with the department being investigated.”
Since the shooting, Taylor has also said the investigation law may need to be revised. Some have raised the possibility of creating a civilian oversight board.Since the shooting, Taylor has also said the investigation law may need to be revised. Some have raised the possibility of creating a civilian oversight board.
The impartiality of state investigations into officer-involved shootings in Wisconsin has been brought into question in other recent instances. The law mandating state investigations went into effect last fall, shortly before Dontre Hamilton was killed by a Milwaukee police officer. Taylor and others have criticized that process as biased, after it was revealed a former Milwaukee officer was leading the investigation.The impartiality of state investigations into officer-involved shootings in Wisconsin has been brought into question in other recent instances. The law mandating state investigations went into effect last fall, shortly before Dontre Hamilton was killed by a Milwaukee police officer. Taylor and others have criticized that process as biased, after it was revealed a former Milwaukee officer was leading the investigation.
From the outset, community members in Madison have worried about how the investigation into Tony Robinson’s death has been handled. One of the early concerns focused on the way Robinson’s two close friends and roommates, Anthony and Javier Limon, were taken in for questioning as witnesses in what Anthony’s attorney, Syovata Edari, calls “an illegal arrest”.From the outset, community members in Madison have worried about how the investigation into Tony Robinson’s death has been handled. One of the early concerns focused on the way Robinson’s two close friends and roommates, Anthony and Javier Limon, were taken in for questioning as witnesses in what Anthony’s attorney, Syovata Edari, calls “an illegal arrest”.
Edari and others also question whether the presence of a former Madison police department officer on the department of justice team investigating the killing represents a fundamental conflict of interest.Edari and others also question whether the presence of a former Madison police department officer on the department of justice team investigating the killing represents a fundamental conflict of interest.
Robinson was killed on a cold Friday evening. Sources say his friends, Anthony and Javier, were offered shelter in squad cars as they stood on the street in front of their bloodied landing. They accepted, only to be driven to the police department where they were held and questioned for several hours while attorneys and loved ones tried in vain to see them.Robinson was killed on a cold Friday evening. Sources say his friends, Anthony and Javier, were offered shelter in squad cars as they stood on the street in front of their bloodied landing. They accepted, only to be driven to the police department where they were held and questioned for several hours while attorneys and loved ones tried in vain to see them.
Frustration in the community built further this week as the Limon brothers were evicted from the house where Robinson was shot and charged almost $1,200 for “bio-hazard cleanup” resulting from the fatal shooting.Frustration in the community built further this week as the Limon brothers were evicted from the house where Robinson was shot and charged almost $1,200 for “bio-hazard cleanup” resulting from the fatal shooting.
When the Guardian visited the apartment at 1125 Williamson Street, almost a week after Robinson was shot there, the stairwell and landing were still covered in blood. The landlord who issued the eviction notice, Ray Peterson, said he had not approached the police or the city to cover the costs of the cleanup.When the Guardian visited the apartment at 1125 Williamson Street, almost a week after Robinson was shot there, the stairwell and landing were still covered in blood. The landlord who issued the eviction notice, Ray Peterson, said he had not approached the police or the city to cover the costs of the cleanup.
He declined to comment on criticisms that the billing was insensitive and told the Guardian he planned to put the property back on the rental market.He declined to comment on criticisms that the billing was insensitive and told the Guardian he planned to put the property back on the rental market.
Related: Mother of Tony Robinson: I was isolated at hospital and not told of son's deathRelated: Mother of Tony Robinson: I was isolated at hospital and not told of son's death
Craig Spaulding, a close family friend of the Limon brothers, expressed dismay over the bill.Craig Spaulding, a close family friend of the Limon brothers, expressed dismay over the bill.
“I understand that it’s his legal right to sue them for the back rent,” he said. “But the bio-clean up? I think it’s just ridiculous that he’s even attempting to go after them for it when I’m pretty sure his insurance would cover it.” “I understand that it’s his legal right to sue them for the back rent,” he said. “But the bio-cleanup? I think it’s just ridiculous that he’s even attempting to go after them for it when I’m pretty sure his insurance would cover it.”
On Friday afternoon, Madison police released hundreds of background documents relating to the case, but none that divulged any further detail on the night Robinson was shot.On Friday afternoon, Madison police released hundreds of background documents relating to the case, but none that divulged any further detail on the night Robinson was shot.
The documents revealed 11 instances of force used by officer Kenny since 2011 and showed a number of contacts Robinson and members of his family had with police, including a number of custody disputes between Robinson’s parents.The documents revealed 11 instances of force used by officer Kenny since 2011 and showed a number of contacts Robinson and members of his family had with police, including a number of custody disputes between Robinson’s parents.